[StinkLink]

Heres a question that concerns body-tech more than bike tech:

First, a bit of backround:I have been riding my 2001 stinky primo (5"/5" travel) for the past 5 seasons (and going on my 6th). I ride it for XC, freeride, DH, dirt jumping etc... I love using this bike for everything.

I use it most often for XC I would say and I think every 35 lbs (give or take a few) is worth the weight uphill, for the overall quality of ride i get. However, over the years I have had a number of people say to me: wow, you would be so much faster if you got on a lighter bike!

So here's the queistion: would I really be faster if I was riding a lighter bike for the past six years? I agree that if at this exact point in time i switched, a lighter bike would be easier to carry uphill/ faster/ etc.... But what is the point of adjustment (or should i say adaptation)?

I think that after a few years of time to adjust your body would have to become a bit stronger to compensate for the heavier bike (given you are riding with the same people/ keeping up the same average speed etc...) So, I conclude, that at some point (after a few years of riding the same bike) it makes no difference whether it is five pounds lighter or heavier.. your body will simply adapt.

as a closing point: i acknowledge that there are an infinite number of other factors at play here that could make you faster or slower (from bike tech, to terrain, to fitness, riding partners, etc...) So i would like to keep my quesiton more strictly to bike weight, and assume all other factors are neutral.

this question has been on my mind for months. What do you think?

 

[sanjuro]

Heres a question that concerns body-tech more than bike tech:

First, a bit of backround:I have been riding my 2001 stinky primo (5"/5" travel) for the past 5 seasons (and going on my 6th). I ride it for XC, freeride, DH, dirt jumping etc... I love using this bike for everything.

I use it most often for XC I would say and I think every 35 lbs (give or take a few) is worth the weight uphill, for the overall quality of ride i get. However, over the years I have had a number of people say to me: wow, you would be so much faster if you got on a lighter bike!

So here's the queistion: would I really be faster if I was riding a lighter bike for the past six years? I agree that if at this exact point in time i switched, a lighter bike would be easier to carry uphill/ faster/ etc.... But what is the point of adjustment (or should i say adaptation)?

I think that after a few years of time to adjust your body would have to become a bit stronger to compensate for the heavier bike (given you are riding with the same people/ keeping up the same average speed etc...) So, I conclude, that at some point (after a few years of riding the same bike) it makes no difference whether it is five pounds lighter or heavier.. your body will simply adapt.

as a closing point: i acknowledge that there are an infinite number of other factors at play here that could make you faster or slower (from bike tech, to terrain, to fitness, riding partners, etc...) So i would like to keep my quesiton more strictly to bike weight, and assume all other factors are neutral.

this question has been on my mind for months. What do you think?

Well, if all things are equal, a heavier bike is a better trainer. Many riders have "training" wheels which are usually heavier than their "race" wheels. The heavier wheels force you to work harder during training, although it really is for durability.

On the other hand, I tell customers in my shop that a lighter bike helps you to train better because it is more fun to ride lighter bikes than heavier ones.

However, I think the most important factor for "heavy" bikes is how they pedal. I ride my VP-Free many places because it pedals well. An older Stinky would not pedal as well as even a Dawg or a Coiler with a current shock.

 

[StinkLink]

I agree that heavier bikes make better trainers, and that bikes that pedal more effeciently will help you go faster, but neither of these points answers my question.

My question is: after a few years of riding the same bike, will your body (Strength) naturally adapt to the weight of the bike that your are riding?

My hypothesis is that after a few years on a heavy bike, you would be just as fast as if you spent all that time on a light bike (without switching between the two)...

 

[Quo Fan]

I was riding (and still ride) a heavier bike and then switched to a lighter bike. I found that I could ride longer, and climb some things better because of the lighter bike. I still ride both bikes, though I ride my lighter one more.

I don't feel that switching to a lighter bike after riding a heavier bike wil make much of a difference overall. You may see an initial change, ie faster in some sections, climb better, and other things taht go with riding a light bike, but eventually, you will revert to how you ride with your heavier bike.

 

[keen]

I agree that heavier bikes make better trainers, and that bikes that pedal more effeciently will help you go faster, but neither of these points answers my question.

My question is: after a few years of riding the same bike, will your body (Strength) naturally adapt to the weight of the bike that your are riding?

My hypothesis is that after a few years on a heavy bike, you would be just as fast as if you spent all that time on a light bike (without switching between the two)...

A heavier bike will make you faster or equal depending upon how you ride the heavy bike. If I ride my heavy bike solo I tend to ride slower because it is naturally heavier. If I ride my heavy bike in a group of faster riders (XC equipped) I am forced to pick up the pace on my heavy bike resulting in a better workout. We have a rider in our group that rode a 40lb. big hit and equalled the group pace on XC rigs. This season he went w/ a 30lb. bike and can leave most of the group in his dust now.